Tapas or Austerity
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| Shiva in the Circle of Fire also known as Natraja |
The next Niyama to
follow Saucha (cleanliness) and Santosha (contentment) (check the previous
blogs) is Tapas or Austerity. Now austerity in strict sense is often
interpreted as strict religious practices of chanting, fasting, rituals, observation
of silence etc. The body is passed through severe tests to withstand hardships
in order to reach the ultimate goal of salvation or nirvana. Nevertheless, the
physical hardships do not necessarily silence the monkey of our mind. Our mind
is so fickle that it reverts back to thinking unnecessarily despite severe
austerities inflicted on the body. So tapas is beyond physical hardship, it is most
importantly training of mind to still.
Tapas means to set
habits of mind, to establish a mind culture so that it behaves and stills
itself. It has to be obviously practised in a structured way to show the
desired results. Just the way we train children to adapt to socially acceptable
behaviour through education and nurture, Tapas is a mental discipline of
teaching mind to stop thinking and to connect to our inner self.
We are told if you
fast on a particular day of the month or on a particular occasion our prayers
will be fulfilled. Our rational mind wonders how fasting will lead to
fulfilment. A practical, rational and
modern approach to understand this process is to train our mind through tapas
or austerities to fulfil our desires. How
is this done then?
In our daily life, we
always have a burning desire to achieve something or to possess something. At
some point in life women always dream to have lots of diamond jewellery or all
clothes and bags made by Chanel. Men on the other hand, want to have a Ferrari
or Jaguar. We can buy some diamonds but we cannot always buy all new high
fashion from Chanel or our dream wheels.
Positive thinking
principles teach us nothing is impossible if there is internal fire or a
burning desire to achieve or possess something. In reality we might not get a Jaguar
or Ferrari which such cravings but we will able to reach some level of financial success through
our intense desires. Tapas is all about these burning desire. To direct tapas
into our inner self is an art. We tend to ignore the tremendous volcanic energy
present in our inner self. Our mind so preoccupied with thoughts that we fail
to discover the potential of our inner self which is often covered with
clouds. Tapas teaches us to move the clouds of obscurity covering our inner
self and make it shine brightly like the sun.
In meditation you
have enter into the deep recesses of your mind and nurture it with positive
affirmation of your goals or desires, some examples could be “ I can do it” or I am the best person for
this job”, or “ I am the happiest man”, “ I am most successful person in this
industry”, “ I can buy this”, “I will own biggest shopping mall in the town” Let these affirmations seep in every cell,
every part of your body to such an extent that one day your thoughts and
feelings will merge. That is the moment when your inner self will be connected
to you, that spark of awakening will enable you to conquer the world.
Reflect and think
about moments when your thoughts and feelings were one. They could be simple ones
like getting the dream job you wanted which made you feel out of this world
with happiness or when you were in love and your beloved accepted your proposition or you
won an award or recognition for something you worked hard. Remember the
feelings on such occasion or some other occasions when you were thinking and
you got what you wanted. That is the merger of thought and feeling, which is also
the moment when you are connected to
your inner self. It is important to understand this concept only then you will
be mindful of the awakening taking place.
This practise has to
be embedded into your life style keeping into mind the previous steps of Niyama
(saucha and santosha), so that tapas is in sync and in coherence with the
previous steps. It is not so easy said and done. This requires perseverance as
there is no short cut. Practising tapas is not like making two minute noddles.
It requires constant training of mind. Mind has to be taught again and again to
look inside to find your inner self. This search is also a search of divinity.
Your inner self is your God who will guide you to climb the ladder of success
material or spiritual. Not to forget this happens when there is heartfelt
desire such as I want it at any cost.
We are familiar with
the image of Shiva as Natraja, Shiva dancing in the circle of fire. This
symbolism is interesting. Circle is
wholeness and fire is purification.
Purification here is the purification of mind to reach the wholeness of our
self. The tandav or the dance of Shiva
also symbolizes the sufferings, disappointments, failures we have to confront in life which are like hot fire, we have to pave our way through them, conquer
them. Just because we suffer loss of a family member, lose money, lose job etc.
we cannot stop living, we have to face it and find a way out in the circle of
fire.
Similarly, dancing in
the circle of fire was not easy for Shiva, the fire was hot and it was burning.
His forehead sweated with heat. Shiva here is none other but an individual who
keeps dancing to achieve the wholeness of his inner self. Like the circle of
fire we are trapped in pain and suffering in our life, we confront downfall,
misery, loss. Practice of tapas will
equip us to face trying times and emerge triumphant. It will teach us who we
are and what our real identity is.
In our life we cannot
get anywhere without tapas. Tapas will transform your life in harmony with your
inner self which will manifest into living in harmony with nature and
environment. You will have better skills to deal with competition, aggression,
sorrow and suffering at work and home.
Meditative technics
which could help:
1. Sit
down in calm relaxed position on a mat facing north-east.
2. Burn
incense or candles to create a soothing atmosphere
3. Close
your eyes and turn the vision inside. Breathe in and breathe out telling yourself
your goal in life “I am the most successful person in this universe” or “I have everything that life needs”. Breathe
in these affirmations and breathe out these affirmations. Time for 10 minutes and
do it with focus. Each time you say this statement make sure it penetrates
every part of your body, every cell of your body.
4. Meditate
for 20 minutes focusing on your breath. Be mindful of every rise and fall of your
abdomen with each breath. If other thoughts invade your mind, push them aside
and concentrate again on rise and fall of your breathe in your abdomen.
5. Keep
siting in silence and peace feeling your inner self and just breathing in and
breathing out saying to your “I am that” (which means I am the Absolute self)
For believers each in
breath and out breath say Om Shri Swami Samarth or Om Namah Shivah
For non-believers for
each in breath and out breath say I am the Absolute self or I am that.
Niharicca
My sincere prayers that Swami Maharaj takes you to your inner self.
References:
2. Swami
Shankaranda,2003 in Consciousness is Everything: Yoga of Kashmir Shaivaism.
Shaktipat press.
